Lighting fixture



June 1965 I w. M. 'WALDBAUER 3,189,736

I LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSESINVENTOR jjumfw Wiflter M. Woldbouer June 15, 1965 -w. M. WALDBAUERLIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1965 Fig.3.

June 15, 1965 w. M. WALDBAUER LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMay 21, 1963 June 15, 1965 w. M. WALDBAUER LIGHTING FIXTURE 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 21, 1965 Fig.5-

Fig.6.

LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May .21, 1965 Fig.7.

United States Patent 3,189,736 LIGHTING FIXTURE Walter M. Waldbauer,North Olmsted, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 21, 196 3, Ser.No. 281,916 7 Claims. (Cl. 240--3) This invention relates, generally, tolighting fixtures and, more particularly, to outdoor lighting fixtures,generally known as luminaires.

An object of the invention is to provide a luminaire suitable for thelighting of malls, campus type developments, parks, recreation areas,parking areas, residential and business streets, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved luminairewhich may be readily attached to the top of a post or pole.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved luminairehaving a sectionalized refractor assembly.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a luminaire having ahinged cover or reflector which can be opened to permit optical membersto be lifted out of the supporting housing of the luminaire.

A still further object of the invention is to provide spaced membersextending from the housing for supporting the cover assembly and whichmerge into the general appearance of the luminaire.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter orwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an invertedgenerally frus'toconical-shaped housing may be attached to the top endof a pole by means of a single set screw. A sectionalized generallyfrustoconical-shaped refractor is mounted on top of the housing and agenerally frustoconical-shaped diflfuser is mounted on top of therefractor. Four outer bars equally spaced around the housing areattached to the housing and extend to the top of the diifuser where theysupport a top ring to which a cover is hinged. The bars cover the jointsbetween quadrants of the refractor. A door in the housing providesaccess to a ballast assembly inside the housmg.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of aluminaire embodying the principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a latch for the cover of the luminaire;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation,of the metal housing for the luminaire;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the housing;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, in plan, of a top ring for the luminaire;

FIG. 6 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation of the ringshown in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views of the hinge for the cover of theluminaire; and

FIG. 10 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of amodification of the luminaire shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the luminaireshown therein comprises a housing 10, a refractor assembly 11, adiffuser 12, a top ring 13, a cover 14, and four bars which are equallyspaced around the outside of the luminaire. As shown, the luminaire maybe mounted on top of a post or pole 16.

The housing 10 is preferably cast from aluminum or other suitablematerial. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing isgenerally frustoconical in shape, open at both ends, and is mounted inan inverted position with the end having the smaller diameter at thebottom and the end having the larger diameter at the top.

The housing is provided with three equally spaced, integrally formedinternal ribs 17 at its bottom end for mounting the housing on the pole16. Each rib 17 has an inwardly extending projection 18 thereon forengaging the top of the pole. A threaded opening 19 is provided in onerib 17 for receiving a set screw 21, shown in FIG. 1, for attaching thehousing to the pole 16.

The housing 10 is also provided with four equally spaced internalshoulders 22 at the top of the housing. Each shoulder 22 has an upwardlyextending projection 23 thereon. The shoulders 22 support the refractorassembly 11. Oppositely disposed bosses 24 are provided on the inside ofthe housing 10. The bosses 24 support a lamp holder 25 and a ballastassembly 26. A door 27 is provided for an opening 27 in the housing 10between two of the vertically extending bars 15 to permit access to theballast assembly 26. Four equally spaced external projections 28 extendlongitudinally of the hous- 10. One of the bars 15 is attached to eachprojection 28 by screws 29, as shown in FIG. 1, which are threaded intoholes 3% in the projections 28.

The refractor 11 and the dilfuser 12 are preferably composed of plasticmaterial. However, they may be composed of glass if desired. Therefractor 11 is preferably made in four quadrants which are heldassembled by bands or wires 31 disposed in grooves at the top and/ orbottom of the refractor assembly. The refractor is generallyfrustoconical in shape and is mounted with the small end at the bottomand the large end at the top.

' The refractor can be made in one piece if desired. However, a widevariety of light distribution can be achieved by suitable arrangement ofvarious quadrant sections. As previously explained, the refractorassembly is supported by the shoulders 22 on the housing 10.

The diffuser 12 is preferably made in one piece. It is also generallyfrustoconical in shape and is disposed at the top of the refractorassembly with the small end of the diffuser resting on the top of therefractor 11. The diffuser is provided with insert portions 32 in orderto clear the bars 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the top ring 13 encircles the top of the diliuser12. The ring 13 is supported by the four bars 15 to which it is attachedat the top of the bars by screws 33. The cover 14 is mounted on the ring13 by means of a hinge 34. As shown in FIG. 5, the ring 13 has twospaced projections 35 thereon for receiving the hinge member 34 which isretained between the projections 35 by means of a pin 36.

The hinge member 34 is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. It is attached to thecover 14 by screws 37 which may be threaded into tapped openings 38 inthe hinge member. The hinge member has an opening 39 therethrough forreceiving the pin 36 to retain the hinge member between the projections35 on the ring 13.

The cover 14 is preferably formed from sheet aluminum. It may be painteda suitable color on the out-side and reflecting white on the inside. Asshown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 14 is retained closed bymeans of a latch assembly 41. The latch assembly 41 comprises a shortbar 42 attached to the cover 14 by a screw 44. The bar 42 is engaged bya screw 46 held captive by a washer 45 in a lateral projection 47 on thetop ring 13. The screw 46 may be of the quick release type.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the projection 47 has an opening 48 thereinfor receiving the screw 46. The projection 47 is located diametricallyopposite the hinge member on the ring 13. The ring 13 has tappedopenings 49 therein for receiving the screws 33 for attaching the ringto the outer bars 15. When the cover 14 is opened thethe diffuser 12 hasspaced upwardly extending projections 52 (see FIG. 2) around its top. Inthis manner clearance is provided between the main portions of the ring13, the diffuser 12 and the cover 14. Also, the bottom opening of thehousing for the pipe 16 islarger than the pipe, thereby permitting airto enter between the ribs 17 at the bottom of the housing. Heat from thelamp creates a chimney edect causing the air to rise. The hot air isexhausted between the diffuser and the cover, and between the ring andthe cover.

If automatic control of the luminaire is desired, a photocontrol unit 55may be mounted on the top of the cover 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Thephotocontrol unit comprises a receptacle 56 which is retained in anopening in the cover 14 by means of an adapter 57 which is attached tothe cover by screws 58. A gasket 59 may be provided between a flange onthe receptacle 56 and the cover 14.

The outer bars 15 are generally U-shaped in crosssection. The wires fromthe photocontrol unit 55 may be disposed inside one of the bars 15 toconnect the photocontrol unit with the ballast equipment in the housing.The bars 15 are disposed over the 'joints between quadrants of therefractor 11, thereby concealing the joints. The bars extend from nearthe bottom of the housing to the top ring 13.

The modified luminaire shown in FIG. 10 is similar to the one shown inFIG. 1 with the exception that the housing does not contain the ballastequipment. Accordingly, the housing 10' shown in FIG. 10 is shorter inlength than the housing 10 shown in FIG. 1. The housing 10' is attachedto a pole 16 in the same manner as the housing 10. The outer bars 15 inthe structure shown in FIG. 10 are shorter than the bars 15 in FIG. 1since they extend only from near the top of the housing 10' along therefractor *11 and the diffuser 12 to the top ring .13 to which they areattached in the manner hereinbefore described. The refractor 11 issupported by the housing 10' in the manner hereinbefore described andthe diffuser 12 is mounted on top of the refractor 11 as previouslydescribed.

Fromthe foregoing description it is apparent that the invention providesa luminaire which may be readily attached to the top of a supportingpost or pole. The internal ribs provided in the housing for supportingthe luminaire insure good alignment with the pole. The sectionalizedrefractor permits flexibility of light control and distribution. Thehinged top cover, which also functions as a reflector, permits theplastic components to be lifted out for cleaning and also permits lampreplacement. The four bar system for supporting the top members of theluminaire merges into the general appearance of the luminaire. The barsalso provide a raceway for the wires from the photocontrol unit when oneis utilized. When the longer housing is provided, the ballast equipmentmay be mounted inside the housing.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described construction,the different embodiments of the invention may be made Without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A luminaire for vertical mounting on a support, said luminairecomprising: 7

(a) a hollow housing terminating in upper and lower ends, connectingmeans disposed proximate the lower end of said housing for affixing saidhousing to said support, and refractor holding means proximate the upperend of said housing;

(b) a plurality of support means affixed to said housing and extendingupwardly from said housing;

(c) a hollow refractor member terminating in upper and lower ends, thelower end of said refractor mernber resting on said refractor holdingmeans, the outer surface of said refractor member interfitting betweensaid plurality of upwardly extending support means to preventsubstantial lateral movement of said refractor member;

(d) a hollow light difiuser terminating in upper and lower ends andsupported at its lower end by the upper end of said refractor member,the. outer surface of said diffuser interfitting between said pluralityof upwardly extending support means to prevent substantial lateralmovement of said diffuser;

(e) a cover supporting means affixed to the upper ends of saidupwardlyextendingsupport means and having an opening therein greater than theoutside diameters of said diffuser and said refractor member; and

(f) a cover hingedly affixed to said cover supporting means and having aclosed and an open position, when in said closed position said coveracting to block any substantial upward'movement of said diffuser andrefractor member, when said cover is in said open position said diffuserand said refractor member being readily removable from said luminaire byliftingthem upwards'through said cover supporting means.

2. The luminaireas specified in claim 1, wherein a light source holdermeans is secured within said housing.

3. A luminaire for vertical mounting on a support,

said luminaire comprising:

(a) a hollow housing terminating in upper and lower ends, connectingmeans disposed proximate the lower end of said housing forafiixing saidhousing to said support, and refractor holding means proximate the upperend of said housing;

(b) a plurality of support bars affixed to said housing and extendingupwardly from said housing;

(c) a hollow refractor member terminating in upper and lower ends, thelower end of said refractor member resting on said refractor holdingmeans, the

outer surface of said refractor member closely interfitting between saidplurality of upwardly extending support bars to prevent lateral movementof said refractor member;

(d) a hollow light diffuser terminating in upper and lower ends andsupported at .its lower end by the upper end of said refractor member,the outer surface of said diffuser interfitting closely between saidplurality of upwardly extending support bars to prevent lateral movementof said diffuser;

(e) a cover supporting ring affixed to the upper ends of said upwardlyextending support bars and having an inside diameter greater than theoutside diameters of said diffuser and said refractor member; and

(f) a cover hingedly aflixed to said cover supporting ring and havingboth 'a-closedandzan open position, when in said closed position saidcover acting to blockany substantial upward movement of said diffuserand refractor member, and when said cover is in said open positon saiddiffuser and said refractor member being readily removable from saidluminaire by lifting them upwards through said cover supporting ring.

4. A luminaire for vertical mounting on a support, said luminairecomprising:

(a) a hollow housing terminating in upper and lower lower ends,connecting means disposed proximate the lower end of said housing foraffixing said housing to said support, and refractor holding meansproximate the upper end of said housing;

(b) a plurality of support bars aflixed to said housing and extendingupwardly from said housing;

() a hollow refractor member terminating in upper and lower ends, thelower end of said refractor member resting on said refractor holdingmeans, the outer surface of said refractor member closely interfittingbetween said plurality of upwardly extending support bars to preventlateral movement of said refractor member;

(d) a hollow light difiuser terminating in upper and lower ends andsupported at its lower end by the upper end of said refractor member,the outer surface of said diffuser interfitting closely between saidplurality of upwardly extending support bars to prevent lateral movementof said diffuser:

(e) a cover supporting ring afiixed to the upper ends of said upwardlyextending support bars and having an inside diameter greater than theoutside diameters of said ditfuser and said refractor member;

(f) a cover hingedly aflixed to said cover supporting ring and having aclosed and an open position, when in said closed position said coverextending over and beyond said cover supporting ring and acting to blockany substantial upward movement of said diffuser and refractor member,when said cover is in said open position said diffuser and saidrefractor member being readily removable from said luminaire by liftingthem upwards through said cover supporting ring; and

(g) latching means amxed to said supporting ring for releasably engagingsaid cover.

5. A luminaire for vertical mounting on a support,

said luminaire comprising:

(a) a hollow housing terminating in upper and lower ends, connectingmeans disposed proximate the lower end of said housing for affixing saidhousing to said support, and refractor holding means proximate the upperend of said housing;

(b) a plurality of support bars affixed to said housing and extendingupwardly from said housing, said support bars having a U-shaped crosssection wit-h the concave side thereof facing inwards;

(c) a hollow refractor member terminating in upper and lower ends, thelower end of said refractor member resting on said refractor holdingmeans, the outer surface of said refractor member closely interfittingbetween said plurality of upwardly extending support bars to preventlateral movement of said refractor member;

(d) a hollow light diffuser terminating in upper and lower ends andsupported at its lower end by the upper end of said refractor member,the outer surface of said diffuser intenfitting closely between saidplurality of upwardly extending support bars to prevent lateral movementof said diffuser;

(e) the inwardly disposed concave surface of said support bars and theouter surfaces of said refractor member and said diffuser which areproximate said support bars forming a plurality of elongated enclosures;

(f) a cover supporting ring afiixed to the upper ends of said upwardlyextending support bars and having an inside diameter greater than theoutside diameters of said diffuser and said refractor member;

(g) a cover hingedly affixed to said cover supporting (h) photocontrolmeans mounted on top of said cover with wires extending therefromthrough at least one of said elongated enclosures.

6. A luminaire for vertical mounting on a support,

said luminaire comprising:

(a) an inverted frustoconical hollow housing terminating in upper andlower ends and having a door located therebetween, connecting meansdisposed proximate the lower end of said housing for affixing saidhousing to said support, and refractor holding means proximate the upperend of said housing;

(b) a plurality of support means affixed to said housing and extendingupwardly from said housing;

(c) an inverted frustoconical hollow refractor member terminating inupper and lower ends, the lower end of said refractor member resting onsaid refractor holding means, the outer surface of said refractor memberclosely interlitting between said plurality of upwardly extendingsupport means to prevent lateral movement of said refractor member;

(d) a hollow light diffuser terminating in upper and lower ends andsupported at its lower end by the upper end of said refractor member,the outer surface of said diffuser interfitting closely between saidplurality of upwardly extending support means to prevent lateralmovement of said diffuser;

(e) a cover supporting means aflixed to the upper ends of said upwardlyextending support means and having an opening therein greater than theoutside diameters of said diffuser and said refractor member;

(f) a cover hingedly aflixed to said cover supporting means and having aclosed and an open position, when in said closed position said coveracting to block any substantial upward movement of said diffuser andrefractor members, when said cover is in said open position saiddiffuser and said refractor member being readily removable from saidluminaire by lifting them upwards through said cover supporting means;and I (g) a ballast means mounted within said housing and accessiblefrom the outside through said door provided in the side of said housing.

7. A luminaire for vertical mounting on a support,

said luminaire comprising:

(a) a hollow housing terminating in upper and lower ends, a plurality ofspaced connecting means disposed proximate the lower end of said housingfor affixing said housing to said support, a space between saidconnecting means providing for cool air intake, and refractor holdingmeans proximate the upper end of said housing;

(b) a plurality of support means afixed to said housing and extendingupwardly from said housing;

(c) a hollow refractor member terminating in upper and lower ends, thelower end of said refractor member resting on said refractor holdingmeans, the outer surface of said refractor member closely intenfittingbetween said plurality of upwardly extending support means to preventlateral movement of said refractor member;

(d) a hollow light diffuser terminating in upper and lower ends andsupported at its lower end by the upper end of said refractor member,the outer surface of said diffuser interfitting closely between saidplurality of upwardly extending support means to prevent lateralmovement of said diffuser;

(e) a cover supporting ring affixed to the upper ends of said upwardlyextending support means and having an inside diameter greater than theoutside diameters of said diffuser and said refractor member;

(f) a cover hingedly affixed to said cover supporting ring and having aclosed and an open position, when in said closed position said coveracting to block any substantial upward movement of said diffuser andrefractor members, when said cover is in 7 i said open position saiddifiuser and said refraetor member being readily removable from saidlurninaire by lifting them upwards through said support ring;

(g) hot air exhaust spaces provided between said cover and said coversupporting ring;

(h) a light source holder means secured Within said hollow housing; and

(i) a light source held in said light source holder means, whereby whensaid luminaire is operating the heat given 011 by said light sourcesheats the air within said luminaire causing a natural up draft thereinof cool air entering through the spaces between said connecting meansand leaving through,

said hot air exhaust spaces.

References :Cited by the Examiner,

UNITED STATES PATENTS Cravath 24081 Crossley 240-25 'Akely 240-25Goetzet al. 2403 Andrews -2 240--7.1 Harling 240-25 Husby et a1. 240106Dusen et al 240-3 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

1. A LUMINAIRE FOR VERTICAL MOUNTING ON A SUPPORT, SAID LUMINAIRECOMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW HOUSING TERMINATING IN UPPER AND LOWER ENDS,CONNECTING MEANS DISPOSED PROXIMATE THE LOWER END OF SAID HOUSING FORAFFIXING SAID HOUSING TO SAID SUPPORT, AND REFRACTOR HOLDING MEANSPROXIMATE THE UPPER END OF SAID HOUSING; (B) A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTMEANS AFFIXED TO SAID HOUSING AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID HOUSING;(C) A HOLLOW REFRACTOR MEMBER TERMINATING IN UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, THELOWER END OF SAID REFRACTOR MEMBER RESTING ON SAID REFRACTOR HOLDINGMEANS, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID REFRACTOR MEMBER INTERFITTING BETWEENSAID PLURALITY OF UPWARDLY EXTENDING SUPPORT MEANS TO PREVENTSUBSTANTIAL LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID REFRACTOR MEMBER; (D) A HOLLOWLIGHT DIFFUSER TERMINATING IN UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND SUPPORTED AT ITSLOWER END BY THE UPPER END OF SAID REFRACTOR MEMBER, THE OUTER SURFACE